Labeling-machine



No. 6l3,239.

(No Model.)

Patented NoV. l, I898. 12. A. BURT.

'LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 24, 1897.)

5 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. (3,239. Patented Nov. I, I898. C. A. BURT.

LABELING MACHINE.

(ApplicatiQn filed Nov. 24, 1897.) I o Model.) 5 Sheets-SheetZ.

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Patented Nov. I, I898.

C. A. BURT.

LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 24, 1897.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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No. 613,239. Patented NovJl, I898. C. A. BURT. LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 24, 1897.\

(No Model.)

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LABELINGMACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 24, 1B97- (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. BURT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LABELING- MACHINE.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,239, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed November 24, 1897. Serial No. 659,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BURT, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in labeling-machines in which the labels which are wider than the length of the cans have their overhanging ends or edges folded in and against the heads of the cans, as will hereinafter fully appear.

In the description of the said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which" Figure 1 is an exteriorside elevation of the improved labeling-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 00 00. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line y y. Fig. 5 is a top view of the portion of Fig. 4: which is immediately above it. Fig. 6 is an enlarged View of the right-hand end of Fig. 2 with certain portions thereof removed. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, are enlarged details of the machine. Fig. 12 is a side view of a labeled can. Fig. 13 is an end View of the labeled can. Fig. 14 illustrates a modified construction of a certain part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the frame of the machine, supported by the legs a.

B B are standards, in pairs, erected on the frame A to support the shafts b and c, the former being situated at the entrance end of the machine and provided with a crank-handle d, whereby the machine is operated.

On the shafts b and c are pulleys O and D, connected by the endless belts e. The lower sections of the belts e are used to roll the cans to be labeled longitudinally of the frame or from the entrance to the delivery end of the machine.

E is an inclined track, a portion only of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of any appropriate construction, secured to the entrance end of the frame, upon which the cans to be labeled are placed.

011 the track E are erected two brackets f to support the revoluble shaft g, carrying the spacing-rollers h, under which the cans on the track have to pass, and the said shaft is driven from the shaft b through the medium of the belt-1c and the pulleys 'L' and j, the former and smaller one being on the shaft 1). By this construction the periphery of the spacing-rolls moves slower than the feedbelts e, and the cans are therefore delivered separately to the said feeding-belts.

F and G are pressure-rolls, the trunnions Z of which run in boxes on, resting in slots n in the standards H and I. These boxes are held yieldingly down by springs 0,coiled about stems 10, extending from the boxes and confined endwise between the upper surfaces of the boxes and the upper end of the stands. The object of these pressure-rolls is to keep the lower section of the feed-belts tightly in contact with the cans.

J J are other and larger pressure-rolls supported in standards K and yieldingly held down by springs (shown in Fig. 7) in a similar manner to the rolls before described. The pressure exerted by these last-named rolls is greater than that exerted by the others, and they are therefore made of a larger diameter in order that they be easily revolved by the feed-belts.

L L are guide-rails supported by laterallyextending stems g, which extend therefrom and pass loosely through the standards B and H, and they, together with the rails, are adjustable laterally by means of springs r, coiled about the stems, and thumb-nuts s. As the nuts are unscrewed the spiral springs carry the guide-rails inward, and the springs are compressed as the nuts are screwed up. By these devices the rails may be set to suit the length of the cans to be labeled.

M is a tray for holding cement, situated be low the frame A, which is cut out to form an opening of the size of the tray and near to the entrance end of the. machine. The cement used in this tray has to be melted or reduced to nearly a liquid state, and to eifect this a lamp N of any appropriate description is placed under the tray and supported by a shelf 0, bolted to the legs a.

Extending through the tray M is a shaft P, driven from the shaft 1) by means of the pulle'ys Q and R and the belt S.

T T are disks on the shaft P, (see Fig. 3,)

partially immersed in the cement in the tray. The circumference of these disks is about flush with the surface of the frame, and the disks are preferably grooved at their edge to better hold cement.

Between the disks T is a spring-plate t, which by deflection allows the cans to pass under the feed-belts when the cans are directly under the shaft 1). In other words, the spring-plate i constitutes a yielding bed for the calls as the same are delivered to the frame at the entrance end of the machine.

U is an opening in the frame, in which is situated a label-holder V. This device consists of a plate at on the head of a verticallymoving stem r, adapted to slide in a sleeve a, supported by a stationary plate Z), bolted to the legs a below the frame A. The stem v projects below the sleeve (1, and to its end is connected a strap 0, which passes over and is secured to the circumference of a wheel (1 on a shaft 6, which turns in braeketsf, dependent from the under side of the stationary plate Z).

\V is a spring coiled about the shaft 6, with one end thereof attached to one of the brackets f and the other end to the wheel (1.

Before the strap 0 is connected to the end of the stem '0 the wheel d is turned and the strap wound thereon. Consequently the label-plate it has always a tendency to rise or resist depression. Labels placed on the plate to are therefore held against the under side of the sharpened pins g, which keep the top label in alinement or flush with the upper surface of the frame A.

As a preliminary step to placing a stack or bunch of labels on the plate at the said plate is pushed down to its lowest position, where it is held by a weighted pawl h, the point of which enters a notch 2" in the stem. Then the bunch of labels is properly arranged, the weighted pawl 71" is tripped, and the upper label is thereby brought into contact with the sharpened pins 9 before mentioned.

A is a paste-pot supported from the side of the frame A, containing a wheel 13 on a shaft 0.

A wheel D, corresponding in size with the one B, is on a shaft E, supported in boxes j, one of which is on the bracket I and the other 011 a stand F, which stand, together with a similar one on the other side of the frame, is employed to sustain a shaft G, hereinafter described. The wheels B and D are connected bya belt H, the lower section of which is elevated somewhat above the bed and traverses crosswise the upper label of the bunch at a point near to its rear end and when depressed applies paste thereto.

In order to effect the movement of the belt H, the shaft G is provided with a star-wheel I, situated in the path of the moving cans, which as a can comes in contact with it is turned one-fourth of a revolution. The rotary movement of the shaft G is transmitted to the shaft E through the medium of the spiral gear-wheels 7c andl or by any other power-transmitting devices adapted for the purpose,and the relative positions of the starwheel and the pasting-belt are such that the latter is at rest as a can passes over and depresses its lower section. The belt H is prevented from running off the wheel B by means of a guide m, and the surplus paste is scraped from the outer surface of the belt by a scraper n on the top of the paste-pot. The lower section of the pasting-belt, as before stated, is somewhat above the surface of the top label and is pressed down onto the label directly by the can in its passage over it. In other words, as a can rolls over the lower section of the belt the same is pressed down onto the upper label for a moment and applies paste thereto, the portionof the label pasted having a width corresponding to the width of the belt and a length which is practically the same as the length of the can. The bunch of labels is guided at the side and at one end by the adjustable plates 0, one of which has downwardly-extending bars of a length slightly greater than the depth of the bunch, and a stand (1, which is seated on the stationary plate Z). The sharpened pins g, before referred to, project inward from these plates and are adjustable in length or lap over the lateral edges of the labels.

K is a rod situated in front of the pastingbelt H and resting on the top label. The objects of this rod are to distribute the paste applied by the belt to the label near its edge and to its extremity and also to hold the label tight while it is being drawn around the can.

ICC

It also serves to give an inward curve to the pasted end of the label as it is drawn from under it, so that it will conform somewhat to the shape of the can. were this rod not used the pasted end of the label by being dampened on the inner surface would curl in a reverse direction and not come naturally to the curved face of the can. The rod as described is practically rigid, but it may be spring held, as shown in Fig. 14.

M is a yielding upwardly-curved rubbercoated bed situated between the compressionrolls G and J, the object of which is to press the labels tightly around and onto the cans at the termination of the pasting operation. The delivery end of the frame A has a width which is less than the length of the cans, and at its lateral edges there are rubber-coated rails N, which are elevated somewhat above the frame. The cans after they are labeled traverse these rails and by being raised from the bed are not soiled by contact with a surface likely to accumulate dust. It is while passing along these rails that the portions of the label which extend beyond the heads of the can are folded inward and toward the center of the can-head, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, which represent, respectively, a side and end view of a labeled can. 4

IIC

To effect the folding of the ends of the labels, the exterior sides of the rails N are provided with a series of curved and outwardlycurled sheet-metal blades 0', against each one of which in succession an extended and cylin drical end of the label is brought into contact. When the label comes in contact with the first blade of the series, a portion of the paper cylinder formed by the overhanging label is folded inward, and as the can is rolled forward the second blade turns inward another and adjoining portion of the label, and thus by the time the labeled can has passed all the blades the entire extended portion of the label at each end of the can has been folded inward and flattened down onto the heads. The plates P are merely guides for the completelylabeled cans until they are discharged from the machine.

To prepare the machine for the operation of labeling cans, a stack or bunch of labels is placed on the label-holder and the holdingpawl released, so that the upper label of the stack is brought tightly up under and against the sharpened pins. The paste-pot having been supplied with paste and the tray with cement the lamp under the tray is lighted, and as soon as the cement is liquefied the machine is ready for the reception of cans. The unlabeled cans are placed one against another on the inclined track at the entrance end of the machine, and then the crank-handle is turned at the proper speed. The first can in coming in contact with the spacing-rollers is rolled under them and thrown forward, so as to pass between the guide-rails and under the lower section of the feed-belt, by which it is carried forward. In passing the revolving cement-disks the can receives two dabs of hot and liquefied cement and is thereby adapted to pick up a label from the bunch as it rolls over it. In the picking-up operation the pointed pins which serve to keep the labels in place cut through thelabel; but the cuts are so short that the label is not at all injured thereby. The can now passes over the lower section of the pasting-belt, and that device is forced down, so as to apply paste to near the free end of the label, which is drawn from under the rod holding it down, and the applied paste is thereby spread to the extremity or end of the label. The said rod also serves to give the free end of the label an inward curl, which adapts it to fit against the can-body, as before described. At this stage of the operation the can is labeled, but the unpasted ends of the label which project as cylinders beyond the heads are unfolded. As the can proceeds it comes in contact with the starwheel, and that device is turned one-quarter of a revolution, which has the effect of moving the pasting-belt a short distance, so that a new portion of the belt is applied to the next can which comes along. The can now passes under the large pressure-rolls, which firmly press the pasted end of the label against the can-body,and thence to the folding-blades, whereby the projecting ends of the label are crimped or folded, so as to lie closely against the heads of the can, as before described.

I claim as my invention 1. In alabeling-machine, a bed and devices to roll a can along the same, mechanism to support a stack of labels in the bed of the machine and in the path of the can, the said labels being of such width as to extend beyond the heads of the cans, devices to apply the upper label of the stack to the body of the can as the can is rolled over it, combined with fixed or stationary folders which in the rolling of the can fold in and onto the heads of the can the extended ends of the said label, substantially as specified.

2. In a labeling-machine, abed and devices to roll a can longitudinally of the same, mechanism to support a stack of labels in the bed of the machine and in the path of the cans, the said labels being of such width as to extend beyond the heads of the can, devices to apply the upper label of the stack to the can as it is rolled over it,- combined with fixed or stationary outwardly-curled blades which constitute folders, against each one of which, in succession, the overhanging portion of the label is brought into contact, whereby the ends of the label are turned in and flattened against the heads of the can, substantially as specified.

3. In a labeling-machine, abed and devices to roll a can longitudinally of the same, mechanism to support a stack of labels in the bed of the machine, and in the path of the cans, the said labels being of such width as to extend beyond the heads of the can, devices to apply the upper label of the stack to the can as the can is rolled over it, combined with a series of curved blades which constitute folders, the degree of curl of the several blades diminishing in succession in the direction taken by the cans, whereby the folding in and flattening of the overhanging ends of the label are gradually effected, substantially as specified.

CHARLES A. BURT.

Witnesses:

WM. T. HOWARD, DANL. FISHER. 

